C-Forum

I've been sitting on this domain for years, and now that I've retired from repping, I've managed to put something there...

check it out at: http://www.whitewaterpaddler.com

Just a few pics for now, but hope to have it updated fairly frequently.

Happy New Year!
-David Nickerson

Dave,

Lots of nice pics. There are 2 photos of an older bearded guy with some contraption obviously making it easier to portage with the Zoom.
can you id what the "device" is?

I need something that will be comfortable, especially on the mile carry on the RR tracks after doing the Middle Fork of the Tygert and the Tygert. Thanks!

I just finished sorting my pic library and put 'em all up.

Included in the lot is a slideshow that Jim Michaud made of my first Grand Canyon trip. That slideshow includes pics of me running Lava Falls in an innertube.

Let me know if you want a full size copy of any pic or have any questions.

Talk soon,
David

David,

Are the series of pics DSC 3285 thru 3292 of Nolan Whitesell? Sure looks like him. In pics DSC 3302 thru 3311 someone is in a Esquif going over Empire Rock. Who is that?

Looks like a very beefy level...4 to 5 ft. on the Hwy 76 bridge I'd say.

Michael

Hi Michael,
It was a big level, quite a day.

Nolan ran it with me setting safety on river right (you can see me terrified in the background in some of the photos).

He looked like he was going left (the only line I saw), then last second, he cut right and dropped over the right side into a MASSIVE hole.

He disappeared into the hole and would pop up every 5 or 10 seconds (sometimes vertical). I nearly threw the rope into the hole, knowing he was stuck and in trouble. He washed out eventually. Nolan had stayed in the boat, he rolled up on his 3rd attempt about 100 feet downriver. He broke a thwart, and lost a deck plate from his Whitesell.

I decided to check out the river left option after seeing Nolan get worked on the right that wasn't remotely an option.

The left line was much more friendly, just a big chute.

I think the level was about 4.5. We were there in September 04, I think. It was just after the Hurrican Hugo, Ivan, Jean hits. Lots of big water. Milt has some great video of Nolan, Sudy, and Corinne (two of the best open boaters I know) on Overflow Creek. I got to see that at GauleyFest 2004.

Hope to get on the water with you before too long,
David

David,

That must have been a lot of fun running Sect. III with Nolan at that level. Running the Bull at 4.5' is extremely challenging. Particularly if you choose to run the double drop, as Nolan did. On that line if one goes directly over Decap one should miss the massive hole, but there are no guarantees. The hole is not nearly as bad between Decap and the top ledge as it is just upstream of Decap. If you miss that line, one can be in for a epic trashing in the hole. The fact he stayed in his boat attests to his skill and endurance. The thwart he broke was aluminum, not wood. At high water that rapid can rip a boat up pretty bad.

Sudie and Corrine are great folks to paddle with. They are two of the best women open boaters you'll ever meet. I have repaired Corrine's Whirlwind a couple of times. She told me they had a great time on Overflow. That was one nice summer with all the rain from hurricanes Charlie, Francis, Ivan, etc. I ran more stuff that year at flood than I had in many years. Milt and Nolan ran Sect. III at 8.5' that summer! Quite an epic day I heard. Milt said the water coming out of the Narrows was some of the craziest he'd ever been on.

Hope to boat with you too David,

Take care,

Michael